Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged African writers to embrace indigenous languages to reclaim their history and cultural identity.
Mohammed, who is the Managing Partner of a leading strategic policy communications and government affairs firm, Bruit Costaud, made the call as the chairman of one of the panel sessions at the ongoing World Organisation of Writers Congress in Abuja.
The former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism emphasised that language is not only a means of communication, but also a reflection of a people’s heritage and values.
He pointed out that the dominance of foreign languages in African literature has led to the neglect of indigenous languages, causing a loss of cultural identity and historical knowledge.
He, therefore, called on African writers to be bold and innovative in their storytelling, using indigenous languages to connect with their audience and educate them about their history and traditions.